How to choose the perfect interior paint color
Battle swatch overload with these tips
There are thousands of paint colors to choose from today, all with their own unique attributes. Selecting from this range — from vibrant and bright to mellow and soft — may seem overwhelming, but you can narrow your list of choices by focusing on colors that make you feel the way you want when you walk into a room.
Key insights
- Colors have a psychological effect on us; they can make us feel certain emotions.
- Color creates ambiance throughout your home. When selecting a paint color, think about how you want to feel in a particular room.
- Lighting plays an important role in how a color looks, so make sure to observe paint samples during different times of day before choosing.
- There are various paint color techniques to make a room seem larger or smaller, depending on how you want the room to feel.
7 steps to choosing a paint color
Spending time to find the perfect color for each room in your home is a rewarding task. Follow these steps to make the process simple.
1. Consider the room's purpose and desired mood
While a bedroom is a refuge for rest and relaxation, living and dining rooms are for socializing with family and entertaining guests. Each room in your house is used for a different purpose, which means you’ll want to convey a certain mood for each room. Paint colors can be used to help encourage these emotions.
2. Take inspiration from existing elements in the room
Consider the other design elements of the room, like furniture or artwork, before you decide on a paint color. You can draw color inspiration from the pattern of your favorite rug, for instance. Ultimately, the paint color you choose should bring all these elements together to create a cohesive look.
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3. Understand the basics of color psychology
Color psychology is the study of how colors affect mood and behavior. For example, red can make us feel hungry, so many fast-food chains include this color in their company logos.
Bethanye Carrigan, North Carolina-based interior designer and owner of Bethanye Carrigan Designs, explained: “The room plays a big part in your color decision. Colors have a psychological effect on us even if we don't know it.”
Carrigan said blues and greens typically elicit a calming response, so these colors are most commonly used in bedrooms or baby nurseries. On the other hand, in dining rooms, “you find people go a bit bolder and darker with their color choices. … You can create a more fun, entertaining vibe in this room. Darker colors can also make your dining room seem more intimate and sophisticated.”
The room plays a big part in your color decision. Colors have a psychological effect on us even if we don't know it.”
4. Test paint samples on the walls
The paint swatch you pick up in the store can end up looking different from the actual paint color, so you want to purchase small paint samples to try out at home.
Carrigan recommends painting a large sample on more than one wall: “I typically paint a [12-inch] square on the wall for my clients. We also put it on different walls in the same room — the way the light can hit one wall in the room might change the look of the paint.”
Line up various paint samples side by side so you can easily compare the tones of each color. “Doing this with, say, a white, you may notice one white is creamy and another is a warm white with more of a blue undertone and is cooler,” Carrigan explained.
5. Observe the colors in different lighting conditions
Check out the paint samples at various times of day so you can gauge how the color looks in both natural and artificial lighting. For example, a room facing east may get a lot of sunlight before noon but have little natural light after that. A dark paint color could make a room appear much smaller in the evenings.
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6. Consider the size and layout of the room
Take note of where the door and windows are located in the room. You can use paint colors to make a room seem bigger or smaller, depending on the look you’re going for. One technique to try is contrasting paint colors: If a room feels too wide, for instance, you can paint the interior walls a dark color and leave the wall opposite the door a lighter shade.
Also, think about your furniture and television placement. You can then paint an accent wall to draw the eye to a focal point in the room, like a sitting area or a fireplace.
7. Decide between bold and neutral colors
There’s really no right or wrong way to decide on a color palette. You can choose a combination of both bolds and neutrals if you want.
If you don’t end up liking your choice, you can always try another color in a few months.
What’s important is to choose colors that fit your personality and the mood you want to portray in your home. Carrigan advised, “Choosing neutral colors for the bigger living spaces is great, and then you can add in color with artwork, fabrics, etc. If you want to go bold, I recommend a powder room or dining room. Those are always fun surprises for a guest to see.”
Keep in mind that if you don’t like a color after a few months, you can always repaint the room. Carrigan offers the reminder that paint is one of the least expensive design elements to switch out in your home.
FAQ
How do I choose the right white paint with so many options available?
While each shade of white may look identical in the store, they can actually look much different on your walls at home. There are true whites, off-whites, antique whites, whites with gray and blue undertones — Carrigan advises painting multiple samples on the walls to see how the shade reacts to the light in the room. Also, try changing the light bulbs in the room for a different look.
Can I use different paint colors in adjoining rooms, or should I stick to one color throughout the house?
You don’t have to use the same paint color for all your interior rooms, even if your home has an open floor plan. However, you may want to stick to a maximum of five different colors that coordinate well with one another. You can find expert-curated color palettes online that specify the paint brands and colors to buy.
What are some popular paint color trends for 2023?
When it comes to trendy paint colors, people today seem to be drawn to darker, bolder colors, like olive green and teal. “More people are using color and aren't afraid to try something new,” Carrigan said, adding that some neutral paint colors are still popular: “Greige, a mix of gray and beige, is still holding strong. People are able to use it in multiple rooms in a house because it is so versatile.”
What paint colors can make small rooms appear larger?
Typically, using lighter colors, like white or beige, make a room seem larger. You could also paint the ceiling a slightly lighter shade than the walls, which can make it appear taller and more expansive.
How can I create a cohesive color scheme when each room has a different purpose?
You may want to start with a favorite paint color and add complementary colors to the palette based on that selection. If you’re drawn to a bright teal, you could add lighter shades of gray or off-white to highlight this color. Most paint stores can provide a color palette that incorporates your favorites.
Should I use different paint finishes (e.g., matte, satin, semi-gloss) for different rooms?
Paint finishes can change the way a paint color looks just by reacting to the lighting. Since the lighting in each room is unique, you may need different paint finishes to achieve a certain look.
Also, some finishes are more durable over time than others. For instance, semi-gloss and gloss finishes are easier to wipe clean but also reflect more light than matte or eggshell finishes.
Carrigan gave us this advice: “When choosing sheen for your paint, the glossier paints are better for trim. When you put a glossy paint on a wall, it becomes highly reflective and you see all of the imperfections in the walls.” She added, “I like to stick with eggshell for most rooms. Satin might be easier to wipe down and clean for a bathroom.”
How do I choose the right color for accent walls?
Consider the purpose of the accent wall to help you decide on the right color. For example, you might want to highlight a beautiful piece of artwork or accentuate an antique fireplace. Accent walls can also be used to encourage flow in the home.
Either way, the accent wall should be a contrasting color to the rest of the interior walls so it draws the eye in a particular direction. So, if you chose a dark color for the adjoining walls in the room, you may use a lighter color from the palette for the accent wall.
Article sources
- Color Psychology, “ The Psychology of Colors and Their Meanings .” Accessed July 29, 2023.
- Better Homes & Gardens, “ 5 Paint Color Trends to Say Goodbye to In 2023 .” Accessed July 29, 2023.
- ECOS Paints, “ Painting Tricks To Make Your Room Look Bigger .” Accessed July 28, 2023.
- Melissa Roberts Interiors, “ Using Colors to Create a Cohesive Look for Your Entire Home .” Accessed July 30, 2023.
- The Color Concierge, “ Accent Walls – The Ultimate Guide .” Accessed July 30, 2023.
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